When to Go

When to Go

New York City weather, like its people, is a study in extremes. Much of winter brings bone-chilling winds and an occasional traffic-snarling snowfall, but you're just as likely to experience mild afternoons sandwiched by cool temperatures. Even during our frigid Februarys you might consider leaving your winter coat at home, opting instead for two layers, one of which you can tie around your waist when necessary.

In late spring and early summer, streets fill with parades and sidewalk concerts and Central Park yields free performances. Late August temperatures sometimes claw skyward, giving many subway stations the feel and bouquet of malfunctioning saunas. This is why September brings palpable excitement, with stunning yellow-and-bronze foliage complimenting the dawn of a new cultural "season." Between October and May, museums mount major exhibitions, most Broadway shows open, and formal opera, ballet, and concert seasons begin.